Disclaimer I don't own HTTYD or its characters
That night - (At the palace)
(Astrid POV)
It was late at night (or I guess early in the morning), and all of the guests had gone home, besides a few drunks and guards who were trying and failing to get them to leave without brute force. (Along with a certain twin that was trying to steal a sword from a guard),
Meanwhile, Astrid sat on the stairs retelling her night to her best friend, Ruffnut.
"- And then he just left running "
"Well Ast, it looks like you have a boy problem. Lucky for you, you're talking to the boy expert", proudly said, Ruff.
"Boy expert? Didn't you say that only one of them tried to court you tonight? " Astrid questioned.
"He's probably just sick or something, it doesn't matter", Ruff brushed off. "The point is that you need to find a way to get your mystery guy to stay".
Ruff got an excited glint in her eyes " We need to trap him"
"Uh Ruff I don't think trapping him is the best way "
"Look, do you want him to stay or not, because tomorrow is the last day of the festival, and it also might be the last time you see him".
Astrid hesitated. Did she want to trap him to stay? But what if Ruff was right? What if tomorrow night would be the last time she sees him?
She sighed," Alright let's do it"
"Yes" Ruffnut cheered, she stood up and started walking back and forth, " Now we are going to need rope, tar, paint, an axe, snacks, oh and a cage".
As Ruffnut went on listing supplies, Astrid was already regretting her decision. During this conversation, Tuffnut was busy running from a guard while clutching said guard's sword.
Elsewhere in the castle
(Regular POV)
King Stoick walked through the halls of the palace, still distraught by the news he received. His best friend and right-hand man, trailing behind him.
"Stoick, com'on it's not that bad. "
Stoick stopped and turned to face his friend " Not that bad, Gobber, it's been two nights of the festival and we still haven't found our next king. "
"Yes, but ya gotta be patient Stoick, you remember Gothi's prophecy "
In three days time, the find the rightful heir to the Haddock throne shall arrive
"We still have one night left" Gobber said " We need to have hope, isn't that why you allowed Astrid to have this festival. So that she can find a suitor of her choosing."
Sure Astrid would make a great queen, but her anger often clouds her mind. At the last gathering of royals, her anger almost caused them to lose an alliance with the Meatheads.
To be fair, the lad had it comin, Stoick thought. After all, the Duke did repeatedly try to kiss her without her consent. Aside from what happened with Thuggory, Astrid still had other incidents where her anger got the better of her. It would be better if there was a new king to keep Astrid in check and be a great leader for the Kingdom of Berk.
"No, I allowed this festival to happen, so that I could find the heir, so that the kingdom of Berk will have the right King to lead them into the future".
Then the King of Berk walked away, leaving his best friend speechless. Gobber turned to the portrait beside him. A portrait of the Queen when she was still alive.
"Oh, Val, I don't know what to do with him, sometimes I just want to club him on the head. I know if you were here, you'd talk some sense into him and make him see that Berk doesn't just need a good ruler." Gobber sighed. "Berk needs someone rational, intelligent, polite, and most importantly someone who will make Astrid happy. Or at least someone she wouldn't murder", he laughed.
"I wish you and little Henry were still alive, maybe then we would have to rely on a festival to find a King" He said, before turning away and descending down the hall.